The anime you absolutely cannot miss in winter 2024
2023 has been another great year for anime fans, and if the winter anime season (which runs from January through March) is any indication, 2024 will be just as exciting. We've got a ton of highly anticipated premieres and new series debuts to start the new year, so let's dive in and see what's in store.
Trigger, the anime studio behind beloved shows like Little Witch Academy And Cyberpunk: Edgerunnersproduces an adaptation of Ryoko Kui's culinary fantasy manga Wonderful in the dungeon, which premieres on Netflix. An anime adaptation of the popular South Korean web novel Solo leveling is also premiering, and Bones, the anime studio responsible for Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Mobpsycho 100And My Hero Academiais released Metallic Rouge, an all-new original series to celebrate the studio's 25th anniversary. There are even more exciting new releases this season, including new seasons of Blue Exorcist, Urusei Yatsuraand much more!
We'll continue to update this list as we get a clearer picture of everything this upcoming anime season has to offer, but in the meantime, here are some of the most exciting anime broadcasts this winter that you can look forward to.
Wonderful in the dungeon
Date of publication: January 4
Where to watch: Netflix
Based on Ryoko Kui's fantasy comedy manga, Wonderful in the dungeon follows a group of intrepid adventurers as they descend into the bowels of an ancient labyrinth in search of gold and glory. After being defeated by a powerful red dragon, the remaining party members—human swordsman Laios, halfling locksmith Chilchuck, and elven wizard Marcille—reconvene to venture back into the dungeon to rescue Laios' sister Falin.
There is only one problem: they have no money and nothing to eat. Enter Senshi, a dwarven warrior with a talent for cooking the many monsters and creatures that live in the depths of the dungeon, who agrees to help the party save Falin in exchange for the chance to eat the red dragon .
Directed by Yoshihiro Miyajima (Little Witch Academy, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind), Wonderful in the dungeon is produced by Trigger, the anime studio behind it Kill La killed, Little Witch Academyand most recently Cyberpunk: Edgerunnerswhich earned a place on our list of the best anime of 2022.
Solo leveling
Date of publication: 6 January
Where to watch: Crispy roll
Based on the popular South Korean web novel, Solo leveling is set in a fantasy world where super-powered warriors known as hunters battle supernatural beings who have descended on Earth en masse to wreak havoc and destruction. The series follows Sung Jin-woo, a notorious low-level fighter, who inexplicably gains a mysterious power known as 'The System', allowing him to amass power without any limitations. After becoming the strongest fighter in the world, Jin-woo finds himself caught between two factions battling for the future of the world.
A-1 Photos (Kaguya-Sama: Love is war, Nier: Automata Ver1.1a) will produce the anime with Shunsuke Nakashige (Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of the Underworld) added as director and Hiroyuki Sawano (Attack on Titan) as a composer.
Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga
Date of publication: 6 January
Where to watch: TBA
Blue Exorcist returns this year with a brand new season! Set after the events of 2011 Blue Exorcist and 2017 Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga, Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga continues the story of Rin Okumura, the estranged son of the demon lord Satan, as he grows on his journey to become a powerful exorcist.
This season will adapt volumes 10-15 of Kazue Katō's original manga and feature the returning cast of voice actors from previous seasons. Daisuke Yoshida (Hajime no Ippo) will direct Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga, with animation duties handled by Studio VOLN. Hiroyuki Sawano and Kohta Yamamoto return as composers in this new season, while Toshiya Ōno also returns as the series' scriptwriter.
Metallic Rouge
Date of publication: January 10
Where to watch: Crispy roll
Bones, the critically acclaimed anime studio behind Eureka seven, Fullmetal Alchemist: BrotherhoodAnd My Hero Academiais celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with Metallic villain. It is an original sci-fi action anime directed by Motonobu Hori (Carole and Tuesday, Super crooks) with character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto (Cowboy Bebop, Wolf rain).
Set in a futuristic world where humans coexist with lifelike androids known as 'Neans', the series follows Rouge Redstar, an android tasked with tracking down and eliminating a terrorist network known as the 'Immortal Nine' and that threatens to dismantle human-Nean society. Under the code name 'Metal Rogue', she and her human partner Naomi Orthmann travel to Mars to track down clues in their mission to capture the conspirators.
Urusei Yatsura season 2
Date of publication: January 11
Where to watch: HIDE
The latest adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi's historical rom-com manga returns! This season of Urusei Yatsura will consist of two cours (quarters of a year), broadcast consecutively from January to the end of June. Like last season, Urusei Yatsura is produced by David Production (JoJo's bizarre adventure) and directed by Takahiro Kamei (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind).
The witch and the beast
Date of publication: January 11
Where to watch: Crispy roll
Based on the supernatural action manga by Kōsuke Satake, The witch and the beast is set in an alternate historical world where supernatural entities live alongside ordinary people. The series follows Ashaf and Guideau: a soft-spoken man with a coffin strapped to his back, accompanied by an entourage of crows, and a woman with beastly teeth and eyes, respectively. Their mission: to track down witches who prey on the fear of their human subordinates, searching for the one responsible for Guideau's condition, in the hopes of devising a cure. Produced by Yokohama Animation Lab, The witch and the beast is directed by Takayuki Hamana (Apple seed XIII, Ace of diamonds).
Bucchigiri?!
Date of publication: January 13
Where to watch: Crispy roll
This original anime from director Hiroko Utsumi (Banana Fish) and writer Taku Kishimoto (Cleared, 91 days) follows the story of Araji Tomobishi, an unassuming high school student whose dreams of a carefree life are quickly shattered when he discovers that the school he has transferred to is filled with gangsters and ne'er-do-wells.
It's not all bad, though: he's reunited with an estranged friend and has a new crush. After finding himself in the middle of a battle with the toughest guys in town, Araji accidentally awakens a spirit named Senya, who offers to grant him his greatest wish.
Rick and Morty: the anime
Date of publication: TBA
Where to watch: Max
Rick and Morty is getting an anime spin-off!
Directed by Takashi Sano, the director of Tower of God and the “Rick and Morty vs. Genocide” And “Summer Meets God (Rick Meets Evil)'animated short films, Rick and Morty: the anime is a standalone anime series that follows everyone's favorite alcoholic mad scientist and his grandson sidekick as they galavant across the multiverse in search of adventure and all sorts of other shenanigans. The series is produced by Telecom Animation Film (Lupine III, Shenmue the animation) and Sola Entertainment. According to Sola Entertainment's websitethe series will premiere sometime this season between January and the end of March.